No heating or hot water

GDB2222

LindsayT said:

Thanks for the replies guys. On Thursday, he will be charging £140 for the 'part' and a service. Doesn't sound very good then unless it wasn't that at all and a different part is needed.

I know where the mains tap is but it's very awkward to get to. I couldn't get to it myself.

Do you have a friend or neighbour who could switch the mains tap off for you in an emergency?  If not, you can get the tap replaced with a remote control one that you can operate just by flicking a switch. 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/surestop-remote-stop-!!!!!!-push-fit-15mm/48604

LindsayT

@GDB2222 I'm sure one of the neighbours would turn the main tap off in an emergency, as long as they are not at work at the time.
Thanks for the link, didn't know this was available.

@ThisIsWeird A different chap has turned up this morning. I asked about the part, he said it's an air vent valve and showed me the part. After looking at the boiler, he said it's on lockout. He is still working on the boiler.
If there's any more to report, will update later.

LindsayT

He ended up changing a few things. Can't remember it all and didn't want to ask him to wait while I wrote down as he's been given 8 jobs to go to today but I now have heating and hot water, so I'm a happy bunny.

ThisIsWeird

That all sounds fine, Lindsay

I suspect the initial suspicion of it being a frozen condie pipe was mere speculation on the plumber's part, possibly because they knew the boiler was in the loft. But they would have discounted that as the cause pretty quickly. So, it wasn't ever a "The fault is..." but more "I wonder if..."

The air vent valve is a useful thing in a boiler as it automatically releases any air trapped in your system water. It will be interesting to see what other parts he's replaced in order to make the boiler work again, so please update the thread when you know. The important thing is that it is fixed. Happy New Hot Water.

LindsayT

@ThisIsWeird  you are obviously very knowledgeable about this. I remember he said he changed O rings and cleaned dust from the fan. Can't remember the other things he changed and won't find out now. He did say it probably took longer than I was told it would be as he had to change more than was at first thought but I said I wasn't told how long it would take.
Thanks for the best wishes on my hot water but you forgot about heating LOL, although it's milder now.
Just as an aside, I must admit to getting a bit paranoid about my heating. I lived in Bulgaria for 12 years, it gets blooming cold there and my heating (not gas) broke down 2 or 3 times some winters. Never been as cold as that in my life, one of the reasons I came back to the UK.

ThisIsWeird

It all sounds good, Lindsay.

I suspect you are in good hands moving forwards - the original ol' fellow you trusted would have made sure of that